Ex-Thrashers pick Arturs Kulda had a pair of goals to lead Latvia to a narrow 5-4 win over Kazakhstan. Ex-NHLer Nikolai Antropov had 1 goal and 3 points in defeat for the Kazaks. Kristers Gudlevskis sat backup to Edgard Masalskis for Latvia.

With all teams now through 3 games of the round robin phase of the tournament, Richard Panik's Slovakia is in last in the 8 team Group A. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Russia are currently 1st in Group B, followed by second place Team USA and Tyler Johnson, third place Gudlevskis and Latvia, and fourth place Dmitry Korobov and home country Belarus.

What has gotten into Team France? Two games removed from a stunning upset of Canada, the French got 2 goals each from Baptiste Amar and Stars forward Antoine Roussel to upend Slovakia 5-3. Richard Panik was -1 in 15:59 in the match and remains scoreless in the tournament.

Dmitry Korobov assisted on a Second Period goal in 23:33 of ice time as the host nation Belarus defeated Switzerland 4-3. Mikhail Grabovski's goal with 2:06 left in the Third Period broke the 3-3 deadlock and delivered the Belarusians a key 3 points on the opening round table.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is the truth. The young netminder helped Russia overcome a 40-23 shot deficit as they thumped Team USA 6-1. Tyler Johnson was 68% on draws in 18:18 of ice time in defeat. Vasilevskiy was named the game's best player while ex-Coyotes pick Viktor Tikhonov continued his strong tournament with 2 goals and 3 points in the win.

Thomas Oppenheimer's goal with 4:34 left in the Third Period broke a 2-2 tie and delivered Germany a 3-2 victory over Latvia. Flyers draft pick Marcel Noebels had one of Germany's other goals in the match, assisted by Oppenheimer.

Dmitry Korobov was scoreless in 20:16 in Belarus' 4-1 win over Kazakhstan. Homestanding Belarus scored 4 unanswered goals to get the victory in front of their home nation fans. Ex-Lightning pick Kirill Gotovets was -1 in 9:04 in the match for the Belarusians.

Ex-Coyotes pick Viktor Tikhonov had 1 goal and 1 assist to lead Russia to a 4-2 win over Finland. Caps star Alexander Ovechkin also had a goal in the contest for the Russians. Jackets netminder Sergei Boborovsky turned aside 34 for the win.

Andrei Vasilevskiy sat backup for Sergei Bobrovsky's 27 save shutout of Switzerland in Russia's World Championships opener. Russian captain Alexander Ovechkin had a pair of helpers in the win. Former Lightning signee Retu Suri was scoreless in 14:56 in defeat.

Tyler Johnson had 2 power play helpers as Team USA wrecked Belarus 6-1. Johnson played 16:26 in the game and was also 59% on draws. Dmitry Korobov played 20:03 and was -2 in defeat. Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba had a pair of goals in the win for the Americans.

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Andrei Vasilevskii to a three-year, entry-level contract today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Vasilevskii, 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, played in 28 games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League this season, posting a 14-8 record with three shutouts, a 2.21 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He led all Ufa goaltenders for games played, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. Vasilevskii also led his team to the semi-finals of the KHL playoffs in 2014, posting a 9-9 record with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage with one shutout. He ranked tied for fourth in the KHL during the playoffs for save percentage and eighth for goals-against average.

The native of Tyumen, Russia made his KHL debut last season, playing in eight games for Salavat Yulaev. He went 4-1 with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. In all, Vasilevskii has appeared in 36 KHL games, with an 18-9 record, a 2.21 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage with four shutouts. Prior to joining Salavat Yulaev, he played for their junior team, Tolpar Ufa, in the MHL.

Vasilevskii has shined on the international stage with Russia, appearing in each of the previous three IIHF U-20 World Junior Championships. He won the Silver Medal in 2012 as well as Bronze Medals in 2014 and 2013. Vasilevskii was voted by participating coaches as one of Russia’s top three players in each of the tournaments he has played in. He also participated in the 2011 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championships where he won the Bronze Medal.

The 19-year-old was drafted by the Lightning in the first round, 19th overall, at the 2012 NHL Draft.

Yaroslav Khabarov's goal 1:14 into Overtime broke a scoreless tie and sent Magnitogorsk to the Gagarin Cup Finals by virtue of their 1-0, Game Five win over Ufa. Vasily Koshechkin stopped all 24 shots he faced in the match for his second shutout of the series. At the other end, Andrey Vasilevskiy sparkled making 37 saves in the hard luck loss. You simply cannot ask for more from a 19 year old goaltender. You can't.

Mike Keenan's gamble paid off. After giving veteran netminder Vasily Koshechkin the quick hook in Metallurg's 4-0 Game Three loss to Ufa, Koshechkin responded with a 39 save shutout performance in Game Four to put Metallurg on the threshold of the Gagarin Cup Finals. Rookie netminder Andrey Vasilevskiy was splendid in defeat, stopping 26 of 27 shots faced, but defenseman Viktor Antipin's power play goal was all it took for Metallurg to put Ufa on the brink of elimination. Game Five is slated for Friday with Ufa's back squarely against the wall.

Today might've been a game changer in the KHL Eastern Conference Finals. Not only did Lightning prospect goaltender Andrey Vasilevskiy post a 22 save shutout to hand Magnitogorsk just their second defeat of the KHL postseason, but Metallurg goaltender Vasily Koshechkin was pulled by Head Coach Mike Keenan after a Third Period soft goal that put Ufa up 2-0. What effect will the quick hook have on the veteran Koshechkin? We shall see when Game Four drops on Wednesday. Ex-Canucks draft pick Kirill Koltsov had a pair of assists in the win for Ufa.

Veteran Vasily Koshechkin shined with a 42 save performance that allowed Metallurg to overcome a 44-29 shot deficit to defeat Ufa in Game Two of their Western Conference Finals series 3-2. Ex-Blue Jackets draft pick Sergei Mozyakin again administered the game winning goal for Metallurg, as he and Koshechkin both are setting themselves up for possible playoff MVP honors. Former Red Wings farmhand Francis Pare had the game tying goal 9:10 into the Third Period to force the game past regulation for Magnitogorsk. Game Three is Monday.